In art, the word grotesque has no common meaning with the accepted definition of the word. Rather, grotesque, that is also called "arabesque", means a type of decoration in antiquity. Grotesques can be different things, from medallions and sphinxes to leaves and so forth. They were found in various places such as the Golden House of Nero or in grottoes. The original term was "groteteschi". Raphael used these ornaments, especially in the Loggie of the Vatican. It was 1502 that the word was first recorded in the contract that Pintoricchio had for the Piccolomini frescoes in Siena, and it is thought that Raphael may have also been involved in this contract.

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